BANGKOK, July 17 2012 – The Board of Investment (BOI) has reported that the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects registered for investment promotion during the first six months of this year almost touched 280 billion baht.
Secretary-General of the BOI Atchaka Siboonruang disclosed that during the first half of this year, there were a total of 692 FDI projects requesting investment promotion privileges, with a combined value of over 278 billion baht. Both the number and the value of the projects increased by 32.6 percent and 66.5 percent respectively from the same period last year, when there were 522 projects worth 167 billion baht.
The industry that attracted the most investors is machinery and metal products, with 240 projects worth 109 billion baht. The electronics and electrical appliance industry came in second, accounting for 134 projects worth nearly 60 billion baht, followed by services and public utilities with 130 projects, and chemicals, paper, and plastics with 97 projects.
Ms. Atchaka expressed confidence that Thailand will be able to emerge as the investment hub of ASEAN. She revealed that the BOI will soon hold investment promotion activities abroad as well as open a new office in Mumbai in order to bring in more Indian investors to the country.
